Feagans breaks wins record

It took most of four years to accomplish and happened three hours away from home, but Trevor Feagans' feat on Saturday afternoon during the 41st Platte County Invitational wrestling tournament will be talked about in Carthage for years to come.

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The Carthage Press

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Posted Jan. 19, 2013 at 6:25 PM
Updated Jan 19, 2013 at 6:27 PM

Posted Jan. 19, 2013 at 6:25 PM
Updated Jan 19, 2013 at 6:27 PM

It took most of four years to accomplish and happened three hours away from home, but Trevor Feagans' feat on Saturday afternoon during the 41st Platte County Invitational wrestling tournament will be talked about in Carthage for years to come.

Feagans, a senior wrestling at 138 pounds this year, earned his 33rd victory of the season when he won by major decision 13-4 against Nick Hines of Skutt Catholic in Neb. in Saturday's semifinal round at Platte County High School.

With that win, Feagans improved to 33-0 this season and162-11 in his high school career, becoming the all-time leader for victories in Carthage wrestling history.

"It's a goal that I've had in my sights since freshman year," Feagans said afterward. "Coming in I knew I was very talented because I've had great coaches throughout my youth, and I knew then that with coach (Kenny) Brown and others we have great coaches in high school. Honestly, I wouldn't be where I am now without my family. I'd like to thank them first and foremost."

When Feagans entered the state wrestling tournament with just one loss his freshman season, he said he knew he would have a good career at Carthage, as long as he could stay healthy for four years.

"I have for the most part," he said. "It's just something I've been working on ever since I stepped into the Carthage wrestling room."

Feagans passed Toby Waters for the most wins in program history. Waters went 161-8 while wrestling from 1999 to 2002. Clint Spencer, who wrestled from 2006 to 2009, is third on the all-time list with a record of 156-21.

Entering the Platte County tournament, Feagans needed five victories to claim the top spot. He pinned Oak Grove's Landon Cairer in 31 seconds in round one, received a bye in round two and then won by decision 9-3 against Platte county's Collin Tolliver in the third round Friday. He began Saturday by winning by technical fall 20-5 against Skutt Catholic's Brandon Wheeler in the fourth round, then won by major decision 11-1 against Tony Dye of Tulsa Union in the fifth round to tie the Carthage record.

Feagans ended the tournament with a second-place finish after suffering his first loss of the season by decision 4-3 to Oak Grove's Anthony Barker in the first-place match.

Feagans said he tried to approach the record-breaking semifinal match like any other.

"Coach (Matt) Vernatti told me to treat it like it's any other match," he said. "He told me that even if I was to lose both my matches today and not get the record that it's going to come. Don't worry about it, if it comes it comes. I took that mindset in and came out with a win."

As Feagans continues to set the wins record even higher every match, he still has at least one goal yet to accomplish this year: a state title.

Page 2 of 2 - "Absolutely," he said. "Second twice, fifth once. That's obviously good, but not what I want. I've been working and hopefully I can make my own luck at state.

"I'd like to thank God for giving me the talent and also my family and friends who have supported me throughout my whole career," he said. "I'd like to thank my coaches, too."